• HELP is available if anyone has money worries.

Both the county council and West Dorset District Council are offering assistance and information can be found on www.dorsetforyou.com.

West Dorset District Council has produced a booklet “Helping West Dorset during the Recession” obtainable from council offices, libraries and the parish clerk and the back page lists eight organisations which can help.

You can also visit www.dorsetforyou.com/recession/west.

The parish council was consulted on two applications:

Firstly a proposed entrance porch and 2-storey extension at 20 Martel Close for which there was no objection, but the Council queried the need for four garages in total.

Secondly the erection of a dwelling and garage at 26 Martel Close.

There was no objection but noted that, although council appreciates that this site was originally two plots and proposed building is replacing an existing annexe, it is extremely concerned about extra traffic generated.

The clerk has been asked to obtain a progress report from the district council on 10 Main Street.

The clerk had contacted Persimmon regarding the Old Brickfields Nature Reserve.

The company is dealing with urgent budgetary matters at the moment and will respond in due course.

The parish footpath officer and the clerk will be meeting with a representative of the county council in early March to look at possible routes for a multi-use path from Broadmayne to Dorchester.

In addition, the overgrown, uneven and muddy Bramble Drove path will be investigated.

The Council approved a grant of £50 to the Broadmayne Surgery Patients Support Group.

To find out more about pest control visit www.dorsetforyou.com and search under “pest control” or ring the council offices 01305 251010.

The clerk was asked to look into the problems with overflowing waste bins outside the children’s playing field and at the end of Watergates Lane.

Two members of the public were present during the democratic period together with County Coun Crowhurst and District Coun Alan Thacker.

The next meeting of the council is on Monday, March 2 2009 at 7.30 pm in the hall at the back of the methodist church.

Website: www.broadmayne.org. Clerk: Mrs S Blake, 19 Shaston Crescent, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 2EB 01305 263759.

  • THE recent snow in Broadmayne was mirrored, at the last meeting of West Knighton and Broadmayne WI, in the speaker’s pictures of white topped mountains in Nepal, but the temperature was a great deal kinder there than it had been here.

The sunlit photographs of the five Nepalese villages which had been frequently visited by Richard Backwell and his family, showed smiling people whom he found to be uncomplaining, industrious and mainly self-sufficient farming families.

These areas are not on the usual tourists’ paths and are more isolated and less touched by western influence.

Though they live in sight of the most panoramically beautiful views, their homes are mostly basic and their great need has been accessible water.

Mr Backwell’s respect and admiration for his friends and his shining enthusiasm, has resulted in enough money raised, to have some pipes installed, bringing water closer to the people of several of the villages.

He gave members a fascinating glimpse of a way of life which has much to be commended and the happiness of the people seemed very apparent.

Members promised to look out fabrics and sewing accessories which can be sent out with some sewing machines going to Nepal.

After answering many questions, Mr Backwell was thanked by Deanna Robinson on behalf of the members.

Marjorie Turner gave the group report, in which Broadmayne had been complimented on the organisation of the carol service, and it was agreed that an application should be made for a lottery grant for a group of members to attend a course at Denman College.

Much amusement was then caused by members’ tales of their best and worst holidays, ranging from some honeymoon stories, a near encounter with the Tamil tigers, belligerent landladies and cyclonic camping holidays, to the kindness of hosts changing disasters into happy remembrances.